LIVING AS CHRISTIANS, Week of July 6-12, 2026, “Obedience is better than offering a sacrifice.” Analysis and Responses.

LIVING AS CHRISTIANS, July 6-12, 2026, “Obeying is better than offering a sacrifice.” Analysis and Responses.

“Obeying is better than offering a sacrifice” (15 mins.) Analysis with the audience.

Read 1 Samuel 15:3, 7-9, 22, 23. Then ask:

In what way did Saul disobey Jehovah, and what might have been the reasons?

Saul disobeyed Jehovah because he only partially obeyed his instructions. Although Jehovah had commanded him to completely destroy the Amalekites and all that belonged to them, Saul spared the life of King Agag, kept the best of the livestock and plunder, and destroyed only what he considered to be of little value. Instead of obeying Jehovah's exact command, he acted according to his own judgment.

The reasons for his disobedience could have been the following:

Greed: He wanted to keep what was most valuable instead of destroying it, as Jehovah had commanded.

Pride: He tried to justify his disobedience by saying that the animals would be offered as a sacrifice to Jehovah.

The fear of man: He gave in to the pressure of the people instead of standing firm and obeying Jehovah.

Rebellion and obstinacy: He put his own will and that of the people above the authority of Jehovah.

This account teaches us that Jehovah expects complete obedience. As the prophet Samuel said, “to obey is better than to offer a sacrifice.”

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Saul disobeyed because he did not follow Jehovah’s instructions exactly. Instead of destroying everything, he spared King Agag and kept the best animals. Later, he tried to justify what he had done, saying that those animals would be offered as a sacrifice to Jehovah. He may have wanted to ingratiate himself with the people, avoid upsetting them, or even thought that his way of doing things was better than Jehovah’s instructions.

This account teaches us that we should not pick and choose which of Jehovah’s commands we will obey and which we will not. True obedience means doing his will completely, even when we do not understand all the reasons or when it seems difficult.

From this account we learn that we should never allow our desire to please others to be stronger than our desire to please Jehovah. If we put his approval first, we will avoid making mistakes like those Saul made.

Why is obedience better than offering a sacrifice?

Obedience is better than offering a sacrifice because Jehovah values ​​sincere obedience more than outward acts of worship. As Samuel told Saul, a sacrifice cannot compensate for deliberate disobedience.

Obedience springs from the heart and requires surrendering one's own will to do Jehovah's, whereas a sacrifice is an external act. Furthermore, obedience prevents a break in the relationship with Jehovah, while sacrifice only seeks to atone for a wrong that has already been committed.

This teaches us that we cannot disobey Jehovah and then think that an act of worship will compensate for our disobedience. That attitude would be like trying to buy God’s favor. On the contrary, obedience shows that we recognize his authority and sovereignty, and that we love him and desire to do his will.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because Jehovah looks not only at what we do, but also at the attitude with which we do it. Saul thought that offering a sacrifice could compensate for his disobedience, but Jehovah made it clear that no offering is more valuable than obeying his commands. When we obey wholeheartedly, we show that we trust in Jehovah’s wisdom and that we truly love him.

This teaches us that today, too, we cannot compensate for disobedience by engaging in more spiritual activities. What Jehovah truly appreciates is our sincere effort to obey him in our daily lives.

Obedience shows that our worship is not just a custom or a routine, but an expression of love and respect for Jehovah. When we do things as he asks, we demonstrate that we fully trust in his guidance.

Why is rebellion as serious as the sin of divination?

Rebellion is as serious as the sin of divination because, in both cases, the person rejects Jehovah's authority and puts another authority in its place. Those who practice divination seek guidance and answers apart from God, while those who rebel choose to follow their own will instead of obeying Jehovah's.

In Saul's case, his rebellion led him to deliberately disobey Jehovah's command, capture King Agag alive, and keep the best livestock for his own benefit and to please the people. Furthermore, by refusing to acknowledge his error and justify his conduct, he displayed obstinacy, placing his own reasoning above God's will.

That is why Samuel said that “rebellion is as serious as the sin of divination”: both reflect pride, self-centeredness, and a rejection of Jehovah’s sovereignty. Instead of allowing God to direct his life, the person makes himself his own authority.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because rebellion means rejecting Jehovah’s authority and acting as if our own opinion were more important than his. Divination also involves seeking another source of guidance instead of trusting in Jehovah. Therefore, both reflect a lack of respect for his authority and are very serious in his eyes.

This account reminds us that we should cultivate a humble attitude and accept Jehovah's counsel, even when it doesn't align with what we would like to do. He always knows what is best for us.

Rebellion often begins with small acts of disobedience or with the idea that we know more than Jehovah. That is why it is important to correct this attitude from the beginning, before it becomes a bigger problem.

Read Luke 16:10. Then ask:

Why should we be obedient even in matters that seem less important?

Because small things reflect the kind of person we are. Jesus taught that whoever is faithful in little things will also be faithful in much. When we obey Jehovah even in small details, we show that we are trustworthy and that our desire is always to do his will, not just when it comes to important decisions.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Often people focus only on important decisions, but Jehovah also observes how we act in the small details of daily life. When we are punctual, responsible, honest, and fulfill our assigned tasks, we demonstrate that we are trustworthy. This consistent faithfulness strengthens our friendship with Jehovah.

Furthermore, being obedient in small things prepares us to face greater trials. If we learn to be faithful in simple matters today, when a more difficult situation arises, we will already have the habit of trusting in Jehovah and obeying his principles without hesitation. In this way, we gradually strengthen our faith.

What things might some people see as less important issues?

Some people might think that it doesn't matter much to arrive a few minutes late to meetings, to prepare to speak, to follow the congregation's instructions, to be completely honest in small matters, or to maintain good manners and conduct at all times. However, Jehovah values ​​these details because they show our love, respect, and desire to obey him in all aspects of life.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Sometimes someone might think that details like arriving on time for meetings, preparing to speak, completing an assignment, or being completely honest about small things aren't very important. But Jehovah values ​​these details because it is precisely in them that we demonstrate how much we value our worship and how much we want to please Jehovah.

Let us remember that these small acts of obedience shape our Christian character. When we do things well, even when no one is watching, we show that our primary motivation is to please Jehovah. This consistent faithfulness strengthens our conscience and helps us to remain steadfast in any situation.

Play the video Become Jehovah's Friend: Why Obey God if We Can't See Him? Then ask:

What do we learn from this video?

From the video, we learn that although we cannot see Jehovah, creation clearly demonstrates that he exists and is real. By observing nature, animals, and everything around us, we can perceive his power, wisdom, and love. Just as Abraham did when he gazed at the stars, creation strengthens our faith and reminds us that nothing is impossible for Jehovah.

We also learn that Jehovah sees us and cares for us. Although he is invisible, he is not distant; he knows what we do and how we feel. Therefore, we should strive to obey him at all times.

Finally, the video teaches us that obedience is an expression of our love and gratitude to Jehovah. By living in harmony with his principles and making good choices, we show that we value all he does for us and that we desire to maintain a close friendship with him.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We learn that even though we cannot see Jehovah, we have many reasons to obey him. We can learn about him through the Bible and all he has done for us. He always gives us advice because he loves us and wants to protect us. When we obey his commands, we show that we trust him, just as a child trusts a parent who always looks out for their well-being. Furthermore, obedience helps us avoid many problems and strengthens our friendship with Jehovah.

One particularly interesting aspect of the video is that it shows we don't need to see someone to trust them. For example, we trust the wind because we see its effects, even though we can't see it. In the same way, we see Jehovah's love and care in our lives, in creation, and in the good counsel he gives us in the Bible. This strengthens our trust and motivates us to obey him.

From the video, we also learn that obeying Jehovah should not be done out of obligation or fear, but because we know that he always wants what is best for us. When we follow his counsel, even if at first we don't fully understand why, we eventually see the good results. This strengthens our faith and makes our friendship with Jehovah even stronger.